Berkman has several suitors, including Astros

Updated 10:53 pm, Monday, November 19, 2012

Lance Berkman watches Rice players in his role as a volunteer assistant coach Monday.

Lance Berkman watches Rice players in his role as a volunteer assistant coach Monday.

Photo: Joseph Duarte/Chronicle

Berkman has several suitors, including Astros

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

While he decides whether to play another season, free-agent first baseman Lance Berkman is hearing from several major league teams.

The Red Sox, Phillies, Rays and Astros have expressed interest in what Berkman described as "tire-kicking mode."

"I'm waiting to be blown away by an offer," Berkman said Monday after conducting batting practice in his new role as volunteer assistant coach at Rice. "If I'm not, I'll be out here.

"If somebody comes in and makes a deal that I can't refuse, then I have to take it and go forward. That may not happen — and if it doesn't, I'm fine."

That includes a possible reunion with the Astros, with whom Berkman spent the first 12 seasons of his career and was a five-time National League All-Star.

Astros' first DH?

Berkman, 36, had a "get-to-know" visit with Astros owner Jim Crane last week. He's also spoken with new manager Bo Porter, who has indicated Berkman could bat third and be the everyday designated hitter with the Astros' move to the American League.

Asked what it would take for a return to the Astros, Berkman said: "It would have to be a pretty decent offer.

"If I'm going to hit third for a major league team, then obviously there's a compensation level that accompanies that," Berkman added. "It's just a matter whether the Astros would be willing to pay that or not. If they are not, no hard feelings. I just feel like if you are going to do a job, you deserve to be paid somewhere in the ballpark where the job description entails."

Berkman said he has a "ballpark number" that it would take for him to sign with the Astros but is not ready to discuss it publicly. He played on a one-year, $12 million deal with St. Louis last season.

2-year deal desired

Berkman, a 14-year veteran, said he would prefer to sign a two-year deal with any prospective team.

"You never know if somebody is willing to do that or not," he said.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said the club's stance on Berkman hasn't changed since free agency began in early November and isn't surprised there's a market for the veteran slugger.

"If he's healthy and he wants to play, we would be a suitor, but we would be one of probably many," Luhnow said.

"We could do it. But it'd be up to him to make a decision based off how he evaluates the different clubs and what he's looking for."